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- Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet Council sets 2029 deadline to close £200m budget gap
Barnet Council aims to eliminate its £200 million structural deficit by March 2029, with a financial plan due at cabinet on 12 October. A CIPFA report recommends increasing council tax and reducing bin collections, while the council warns national policy changes are needed to address growing demand for statutory services.
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Council & Politics · High BarnetBarnet faces new planning rules forcing homes near Tube stations
Barnet Council will be required to adopt a 'default yes' approach to housing schemes near Tube and rail stations under new government planning rules. The policy, announced by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, aims to boost homebuilding but has drawn criticism from councils over green belt development and local objections.
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Council & Politics · High BarnetHigh Barnet air pollution halves since 2013 as ULEZ and EV points expand
Barnet Council’s latest air-quality readings show nitrogen dioxide on High Street has dropped by half since 2013. The 2023 ULEZ expansion and a network of 2,045 electric-vehicle charge points are credited. A Sunday play street launched on Calvert Road in April 2025.
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Property & Planning · HendonHollister to reopen at Brent Cross Shopping Centre in Hendon
Brent Cross Shopping Centre in Hendon has confirmed Hollister will return to an upper-floor unit. The move follows a social media teaser by centre managers and coincides with Hammerson’s plans to modernise the 50-year-old mall’s exterior. Some shoppers have called for other brands, including Uniqlo and Primark.
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Council & Politics · FinchleyBarnet Council extends Finchley charity contract for £586,000
Barnet Council has extended its contract with Barnet Mencap, a Finchley-based charity supporting people with learning disabilities and autism. The £586,000 deal runs from September 2026 to August 2028 and aims to reduce demand for adult social care services.
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Barnet Council extends Solace Women’s Aid contract after Met failings exposed
Barnet Council has extended its contract with Solace Women’s Aid until March 2030, costing £210,000 per year. The decision follows criticism of the Metropolitan Police’s handling of double murderer Simon Levy, who killed two women while on bail for earlier offences.
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Barnet faces 7,000 Green Belt homes under Mayor’s London Plan
Barnet Council has formally objected to the Mayor of London’s draft plan that proposes 7,000 new homes on the borough’s Green Belt. The consultation closes on 15 October 2026, with at least half of all new homes required to be affordable.
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Barnet Group workers vote 100% for strike ballot over unequal pay terms
Over 1,000 Barnet Group employees, including housing and social care staff, have voted unanimously for strike action after their demands for equal pay, pensions and conditions with Barnet Council workers were rejected. Unison will proceed with an official ballot later this month.
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Local News · North FinchleyTaylor Wimpey donates £500 to Finchley Foodbank near Tramworks site
Taylor Wimpey has given £500 to Finchley Foodbank as part of a national campaign to support foodbanks during high-demand periods. The foodbank, located near the developer’s Tramworks site, spends over £11,000 monthly to provide emergency food and toiletries to Barnet residents.
North Finchley4 min readTrust 58 · Craft 72 · Hype 15
Property & Planning · Golders Green139 new homes proposed for former Volvo showroom on The Hyde, Golders Green
Barnet Council has received a planning application to demolish the former Volvo Cars showroom on The Hyde, Golders Green, and replace it with 139 residential units and community space. The proposal includes buildings up to nine storeys high and associated landscaping. Residents can comment before a decision is made.
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Local News · FinchleyFinchley Memorial Hospital pharmacy to close on 31 August
The pharmacy at Finchley Memorial Hospital will shut at the end of August after the North West London Integrated Care Board declined to renew its contract. Local MP Sarah Sackman has launched a campaign to retain on-site services, while the ICB points to nine alternative pharmacies within one mile.
Finchley4 min readTrust 68 · Craft 73 · Hype 20- Council & Politics · Barnet
Barnet depot workers owed £14,400 each in holiday pay ballot on strike
Barnet Council depot workers, owed an average of £14,400 each in unpaid holiday pay dating back to 2013, have rejected a six-month backpay offer. A strike ballot closes on 18 August 2026, with industrial action expected if the dispute remains unresolved. Council leader Barry Rawlings faced criticism after reportedly saying the money could only be recovered by taking it from disabled children.
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Council & Politics · HendonBarnet Hill Academy to become first state-funded Islamic faith school in September 2026
Barnet Council will take over Barnet Hill Academy in West Hendon, ending its 20-year run as a fee-paying independent school. The move, approved by children’s services director John Anthony, aims to provide more places for Muslim families in the borough, where 12% of residents identify as Muslim.
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Council & Politics · BarnetBarnet Council installs 27 mobile CCTV cameras in anti-social behaviour hotspots
Barnet Council has begun installing 27 additional mobile CCTV cameras across the borough, targeting areas with reported anti-social behaviour. The cameras, monitored live by council and police teams, are part of a 2022 upgrade plan. Residents’ reports have helped identify priority locations.
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Property & Planning · Mill HillAmazon opens 100,000 sq ft delivery hub in Mill Hill creating 80 jobs
Amazon will open a 100,000 square foot delivery station at Pentavia Retail Park in Mill Hill this October, creating 80 permanent jobs with salaries starting at £31,824. The site will serve Barnet customers and offer hundreds of additional driver roles through its delivery partners programme.
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Noah’s Ark Hospice launches £1m appeal with Barnet councillors’ backing
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in Barnet has begun a £1 million fundraising drive, From That Moment, running until 12 October 2026. Barnet councillors and the Deputy Mayor of London for Children and Families attended the launch. The hospice needs £7 million annually and relies on donations for 76% of its income.
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Local News · BarnetBarnet Vale gardens left dry as council repairs stall
Residents on a guided walk through Barnet Vale’s public gardens learned the water feature at Highlands Gardens has been out of service for months. The 1931 park, once part of the Lyonsdown Estate, sits alongside Greenhill Gardens and a community garden at St John’s URC.
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Barnet loses £58m GLA grant after Dollis Valley call-in delay
Barnet Council has forfeited £58 million in Greater London Authority funding after Conservative councillors called in a cabinet decision to purchase 208 affordable homes at Dollis Valley Estate. The delay meant the grant was withdrawn, leaving the regeneration scheme in limbo.
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WorldLondon burial space to run out in 17 boroughs by 2040, City Hall audit shows
More than half of London’s local authorities will have no burial space left by 2040, a City Hall audit reveals. Barnet Council is among those told to reuse old graves and consider ‘grey-belt’ land to meet rising demand from an ageing population.
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Council & Politics · Chipping BarnetMays Lane parking charges cut to one hour after trader petition
Barnet Council has reduced parking charges on Mays Lane, Chipping Barnet, to a single hour between 2pm and 3pm after traders warned all-day fees threatened their businesses. The experimental change runs until 3 February 2027, with residents invited to comment by 3 January 2027.
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